Lamp attachment for dry cells



Oct.. 15, 1940. E. MANNE 2,218,356

LAMP ATTACHMENT FOR DRY CELLS Filed NOV. l'', 1939 INVENTOR Edgardmanne,

W ORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,218,356 LAMP ATTACHMENT FOR DRYCELLS Edward Manne, New York, N. Y.

Application November 17, 1939, Serial No. 304,927 4. Claims. (el.24o-m61) This invention relates to lamp attachments for dry cells andhas for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive device adaptedfor support by the binding posts of a dry cell to thereby convert thecell into a lamp or flash light. I am aware that prior to thisinvention, devices have been made for the purpose of performing asimilar function, but such devices have been large, bulky, and expensiveto manufacture. The del\ vice contemplated by the present invention isone of simple and inexpensive construction; one which can be carried inthe pocket; which can be easily attached to or removed from a dry celland which Will be decidedly effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of thecharacter described having a hinged, protective cover tting over andenclosing the lamp to thereby protect the same when the device iscarried in the pocket or is in an inoperative position on the dry cell,said cover being also arranged to act as a switch and also to act as areflector for the lamp.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention isshown, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a lamp attachment constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig` 2 is a sectional view on the line2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig, 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showingthe combined cover and reiiector in raised position, and Fig. 5 is aplan View of the: device with the combined cover and reflector insection.

With reference to the structure shown in the drawing, I indicates thebody portion of the device, the same preferably consisting of anelongated strip of insulating material such as Bakelite or similarplastic substance. Extending inwardly from one of the longitudinal edgesof the strip are the recesses 2 and 3, the spacing of these recessesbeing such that the same t around the binding posts 4 and 5 of a drycell or other battery. 6. The spacing of the recesses 2 and 3 may bevaried according to the location of the binding posts on various typesof batteries, as will be clearly understood.

At an intermediate point between the recesses v2 and 3 the member I isformed with a widened or enlarged portion 'I in which is located a lampsocket 8 intended for the reception of the conventional lamp or bulb 9asuch as is commonly used in a dash-light. The socket 8 is ofconventional construction and is held in place in the enlarged centralportion 'I of the member I by being embedded therein or by being securedto the member in any other suitable Way.

The interior of the recess 2 is provided'with a U-shaped metal liningportion 9 serving to establish electrical contact with the binding post4. Preferably formed integrally with and extending from the metal lining9 is a metallic'conductor I0 which is preferably embedded in theinsulating strip I and which terminates in a attened head or end portionII located at the bottom of the socket to establish electrical contactwith the central contact of the lamp 9a when the lamp is threaded intothe socket in the usual Way. The recess 3 is provided with a metalliclining member I2, similar to that shown at 9, from which extends themetallic conductor strip I3, said strip I3 being embedded in theinsulating member I, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The socket 8 has a lowerange I4 embedded in the memmation and is adapted to be normally held ina 2 substantially vertical or raised position as shown in Fig. 4, bymeans of the torsional'spring I6 that surrounds the pivot pin I'I. Whenthe reflector is in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 4,

its concave or inner polished surface acts as a reector for the lamp 9abehind which it is located. In said raised position of the reiiector alug ZI provided on the metal reect'or and located adjaoent the pivot I1is in contact with the end 22 of the conducting strip I3. Thus, currentis conveyed from the conducting strip I3 through the reflector I8, tothe contacting strip I5, and therefrom to the socket 8.

When the combined cover and reiiector I8 is in its lowered position, thelug 2I is situated away from the end 22 of the conducting strip I3 andhas thus interrupted the continuity of the circuit from the metal memberI2 to the socket 8, so that the lamp will be extinguished. The combinedcover and reilector I8 is held in its lowered position by any suitablemeans, such as by the catch member 23 engaging with a recess 24 providedin the edge of the enlarged portion 1 of the insulating member I.

From the foregoing, the manner in which the lll device is used will bereadily understood. When the device is not in use, it can easily becarried in the pocket, since it is small and compact, and since thecombined cover `and reflector I8 extends over and covers and protectsthe only portion of the device which is liable to breakage, namely, thelamp 9a. To convert the ordinary dry cell into a flash-lamp merelynecessitates the loosening of the nuts on the two binding posts 4 and 5to enable the recesses 2 and 3 to be fitted around the povstsgafter"which the nuts on the binding posts are tightened down to hold theattachment in position on the battery. To cause the lamp to beilluminated, requires the raising of the combined cover and reectorwhich is done automatically by the spring I6 as soon as the catch 23 ismanually disengaged from the recess 24. When this is done, the combinedcover and reflector I8 will spring open to the raised or verticalposition shown in Fig. 4, at which time it will close the circuit fromthe metal lining I2 through the conductors I3 and I5, to the shell 8 andcause the lamp to be illuminated, `The lamp will stay illuminated aslong as thelcombined cover and reflector is in its raised or elevatedposition, dur- 4ing which time the combined cover and reflector isacting as an eective reflector for the lamp 9a. To shut off the currenttothe lamp merely requires the lowering of the combined cover andreflector.

The device is simple and compact and can be carried in a pocket or atool'bag and due to the fact that the lamp is fully protected, it canstand a great deal of hard use and abuse without becoming damaged. Itmay be made of a size to be attached to the conventional dry cell or tobatteries of various shapes and vsizes according to requirements, andcan be simply and economically used to immediately convert a dry cellinto a simple and effective flash lamp.

What I claim is:

1, A device of the character described comprising, a base memberofinsulating material adaptedto extend between and be directly supportedby the two terminals of a dry cell, said member having a lamp socketmounted on it, said socket having a metal shell and a contact, aconductor mounted in the member and extending from the socket contact toone o-f the terminals of the dry-cell, and a second conductor mounted inthe member and extending from the socket shell to thersecond dry cellterminal, a movable reflector mounted upon the member and movable toextend either behind the lamp socket or to enclose the same, and meansoperated 'by the movement of the reflector for breaking electricalconnection between one of the terminals and the socket element to whichit extends.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a base member ofinsulating material having spaced recesses extending from one of itsedges, said recesses being adapted to respectively engage around theterminals of a dry cell, said member being provided with a lamp sockethaving a metal shell and a contact, a conductor having a portion locatedin one of the recesses to establish electrical contact with the cellterminal located therein,.said conductor extending to the socketcontact, a second conductor having a portion disposed in the secondrecessy to establish electrical contact with the second cell terminal,said second conductor being adapted to establish contact with the socketshell, a hinged reflector secured to the strip and movable to cover thesocket and a lamp held thereby, said reilector being also movable to avertically disposed position behind the socket and lamp, and acircuitclosing element operated by the reflector to close the circuitbetween one of the conductors and one of the socket elements when thereflector is in a vertical position.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a strip of insulatingmaterial provided with spaced recesses to embrace the binding posts of adry cell, a lamp socket supported by the strip at a point between therecesses, a reflector hinged at one edge of the strip and adapted toextend over and cover the lamp socket and lamp therein or be positionedbehind the lamp to act as a reflector, means on the strip forelectrically connecting the lamp and the binding posts of the dry cellwhen the strip is supported thereon, and means on the hinged reflectorfor interrupting the continuity of Vone of said connections when thereector is in the position of covering the lamp socket.

4. A device of the character described comprising, a flat, elongatedvmember of insulating material having a widened central portion, a lampsocket secured in and rising from said central portion, a reflectorhinged at one edge of said central portion and adapted to overlie andcover the socket and lamp held therein'or else rbe disposed behind thelamp to forma reflector therefor, spring means for holding the reflectorin either of its two positions, means for supporting the member on thebinding posts of a dry cell and Ito establish electrical contact betweensaid binding posts and the lamp socket, and means actuated by thereflector for interrupting the continuity of one of the connectionsbetween the lamp socket and a binding post when the reflector is in theposition of covering the socket.

EDWARD MANNE.

